Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take the AP Exam if I haven't taken an AP course?
- I want to take an AP Exam and I have a disability. Can I make any testing arrangements to accommodate my disability?
- If I don't get a good score on an AP Exam, will it hurt my chances for college admission?
- How many times can I repeat an AP Exam?
- What about my privacy?
- When are the exams given? How much time does it take to finish one?
- Will I lose points if I answer a multiple-choice question incorrectly?
Can I take the AP Exam if I haven't taken an AP course?
Yes. Because the College Board is committed to providing access to the AP Exams to homeschooled students and students whose schools do not offer AP it does not require students to take an AP course prior to taking an AP Exam.
The College Board urges students to study the kinds of skills and subjects outlined in the Course Description for each subject, because they represent the basis for the AP Exam. The best way to do so is in a year-long AP course in which the students and teachers focus on AP-level work. Some students, however, have taken strong courses and/or have studied in depth on their own. These students may be able to perform quite well on the AP Exam.
I want to take an AP Exam and I have a disability. Can I make any testing arrangements to accommodate my disability?
If you have a documented disability, you may be eligible for accommodations on AP Exams. To find out more, visit Services for Students with Disabilities or contact your school's AP Coordinator.
If I don't get a good score on an AP Exam, will it hurt my chances for college admission?
If you take an AP Exam as a senior, colleges will not receive your score before July–probably well after you have been admitted. If you choose to report AP scores from before your senior year, you will primarily be telling the colleges that you undertook a difficult course and that you are serious about your studies. Overall, nearly 60 percent of all AP test takers receive AP scores of at least 3. This score is regarded as an indicator of an ability to do successful work at most colleges.
How many times can I repeat an AP Exam?
You can take an AP Exam each time it is offered (AP Exams are offered once a year in May). Your score report will include your scores for all the AP Exams you have taken, including yearly "repeats" of the same subject exam. You have the option to withhold a score from a college or cancel the score altogether.
What about my privacy?
The College Board makes every effort to protect a student's privacy. When a student takes a College Board exam (such as the PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT® or Advanced Placement (AP®)) they have a choice to "opt in" to Student Search Service® (SSS®). If the student says yes, this enables the College Board to provide that student's basic information to eligible colleges and universities, scholarship programs and certain higher education enrichment opportunities.
While the College Board recommends that students take advantage of our free and low cost practice tools in order to help them do their best on test day, it is our strict policy to NOT sell student information to test preparation companies nor are such companies affiliated with the College Board.
We recommend the following precautions if you receive unsolicited calls from persons identifying themselves as belonging to a test preparation company:- Never give credit card information.
- Don't commit to a purchase regardless of the caller's high pressure tactics.
- Get the company's contact information and the name of the caller; ask for a call-back number.
- Contact your local consumer affairs office, Better Business Bureau and/or FCC if the company continues to make unsolicited phone calls.
Learn more about our Student Search Service policy.
Please don't hesitate to contact the College Board's Student Search Service if you have additional questions or concerns.
When are the exams given? How much time does it take to finish one?
Most of the exams take two to three hours to complete. For subjects that correspond to half-year college courses, the exam is closer to two hours in length. Your AP Coordinator should notify you of the exact exam starting time. You can also take a look at the current exam schedules for days and dates.
Will I lose points if I answer a multiple-choice question incorrectly?
Total scores on the multiple-choice section are based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions.
